Wedding Planning in Lincoln

Many would call this time of year “wedding season”, a statement that is backed by a quick Google search that produces an average answer of late spring to early fall as being the most popular time to have a wedding. However, some may be wondering…does wedding season ever really end? There may be a slow period during the colder months where wedding celebrations aren’t taking place, but if you look behind the scenes, there are many brides, grooms, parents and other family members, wedding party members, and more that are spending their hours past 5 p.m. or on the weekends going to tastings, trying on dresses or suits, touring venues, or trying to decide if the DIY route is really worth it. Plus, there are all of the amazing vendors that are also working diligently year-round and wedding after wedding to help so many happy couples celebrate one of the biggest days of their lives!

When I’m not at my desk working on editorial with the awesome Strictly Business team, I’m probably browsing Pinterest and looking for ways to DIY as much as I can for my very own upcoming wedding. In this process, I’ve learned that not everything can be done on your own – and it’s for the best, too. There are so many wonderful and talented professionals all across our city that are ready to help you make you and your partner’s dream day become a reality. Here are some of the Strictly Business team’s recommended vendors!

Customize Your Day

Looking for a way to offer something to your guests that will always make them think of your big day? Look no further than Flicker Promotions (flickerpromotions.com). Founded by Amy Doele, Flicker will create customized items that are unique to you and your spouse’s celebration.

“It’s very popular to offer a customized item as a party favor at weddings,” explained Amy. “Drinkware is a popular option. Many couples order customized cups with their names and wedding dates, and maybe a fun tagline that represents their day, to serve at the reception rather than the typical clear or red plastic cups. These branded cups will match your theme and can be taken home by your guests as a memento, reminding them of your celebration every time they pull it out of their cupboard!”

Flicker is also great for other areas of wedding planning, such as themed items to offer to members of the bachelor/bachelorette party, or special gifts customized for your wedding party as a way to say “thank you” for being a part of your big day.

“Whether you know exactly what you want or you don’t know where to start, please reach out to the Flicker team,” Amy said. “We will help you fi nd the best customized favors to include in your big day that will not only impress guests and wedding party members, but spotlight the love that you and your future spouse share!”

Feel Right at Home

Ironhorse Bar & Event Room (ironhorseroom.com) is a fabulous choice for rehearsal dinners, intimate receptions, and more wedding-related events. The unique venue is conveniently located in the historic Haymarket district and is filled with original industrial and historical details, giving the event space a very special ambiance.

“We strive to make each event unique to the client, and we work with each client to ensure that we can execute their vision as best we can for their event,” shared Bernadette Seaman. “Our space works great for rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, engagement parties, and intimate wedding ceremonies and receptions.”

Many of Ironhorse’s events happen to be rehearsal dinners; their space is set up with the idea that everyone can fi nd their own cozy spot and relax and enjoy the evening. This works well with what has become the new norm – smaller gatherings. Bernadette shared that it’s exciting to see people embrace smaller gatherings, which also leaves open the option to have multiple events to celebrate at Ironhorse in a weekend, such as the rehearsal dinner and the reception, making it a whole weekend experience.

“Our biggest compliment is when clients tell us they feel right at home in our space,” said Bernadette. “Our space can go from a fun and casual party to an elegant and romantic gathering – whatever your vision is!”

Ironhorse offers different rental packages to best fi t your needs as well as a full bar that features craft cocktails, seven tap beers, unique wines, and much more. Furthermore, they’re very flexible with food; they have a preferred catering list that highlights exceptional catering services in our community, or you are welcome to hire another caterer and Ironhorse will coordinate them. On the other hand, if you want to feature recipes from your very own kitchen, Ironhorse also welcomes you to bring your own food!

Party Entertainment for All Ages

Amp up the party by bringing Nebraska Knockerball (nebraskaknockerball.com) to your reception! Nebraska Knockerball offers bubble soccer and a wide range of other yard games to keep guests of all ages entertained, including Giant Jenga; Giant Connect Four; yard dice; cornhole; tug-of-war; human foosball; Basketball Connect Four; and foot darts, in which you kick Velcro soccer balls at a 12-foot-tall inflatable dart board. Nebraska Knockerball is a great way to entertain your guests at the reception beyond the traditional dancing and drinks. Whether you plan to utilize it as a way to keep the children amused or to encourage guests from each spouse’s side to mingle and get to know each other, Manuel and his lineup of activities are sure to make your event especially memorable.

“Our Knockerball packages begin at six, but we can go all the way up to 12 to really give your guests the best enjoyment and allow more to participate,” shared Owner Manuel Walker. “Plus, when you rent from Nebraska Knockerball, you can rest assured that I’ll be there to handle the knockerballs and yard games so that you, your friends, and your family can focus on celebrating your big day.”

Nebraska Knockerball is great for more than just your wedding; if you’re planning on keeping the festivities of your bachelor or bachelorette party in the local area, reach out to Manuel to bring the party to you. He even offers two giant Bluetooth speakers that you or your wedding party members can connect to!

“What makes us especially unique is that we are the only company providing these services in Nebraska,” Manuel said. “This is all new to the local market. We are so excited to be here and remind people what it’s like to have fun again. We would love to be a part of your upcoming wedding planning!”

Beautiful Outdoor Settings

James Arthur Vineyards (jamesarthurvineyards.com) offers an exceptional location for your dream day. Their richly appointed private party room with comfortable furnishings, rich décor, and spectacular views affords an extraordinary venue available nowhere else in the region. They’re well known for their excellent service, ambiance, and food, and they prioritize personalizing the menu for your group as a way to offer better service and presentation.

“We do all of our weddings outside because the setting here is just gorgeous,” said Jim Ballard, owner. “It’s a beautiful place to get married. We offer the option of having your ceremony at the winery in front of the waterfall. This is great for more intimate weddings and accommodates up to 70 people. For larger weddings, we have a park area just south of the winery near the vineyards that can hold up to 200 people. Both are great locations and we will work closely with you to organize the details.”

James Arthur Vineyards also offers Nebraska cheese and wine tastings, an appetizer buffet, light lunch/dinner options, or a three-course meal so that your guests can divulge in some delicious fare post-ceremony. Of course, we can’t forget what James Arthur is most known for – their award-winning Nebraska wines! Enjoy their finest table wines, from barrel-aged dry reds to sweet, crisp whites and delicious dessert wines, as well as the many wonderful options from Curveball, their line of hard ciders.

Get the Party Started

If you want to start the party off with a bang, we recommend booking a party bus with Tailored Dreams Party Buses (tailoreddreamslimousines.com). They’re true to their name, providing experiences tailored to match your dreams in dependable, luxury form. Their fleet offers a variety of different bus sizes, ranging from 26 to 45 passengers, so you can be sure to find an option that fits the size of your group.

“All of our buses have a Bluetooth sound system, loud speakers, heating and A/C, and fun LED lights,” shared Owner DeeDee Loomis. “We are also the only party bus company in the area that has handicap accessible buses in their fleet. We recommend reserving a party bus as soon as possible, as slots are filling up a year in advance!”

Party buses are not only amazing for an intimate celebration with your wedding party, but they’re also a great opportunity to have some fun while traveling to a beautiful location to take photos with your new spouse and the rest of the crew. Even more, it’s a great opportunity to snag some unique and intimate shots of your celebration by inviting your photographer and/or videographer to join the bus for a bit.

Though it’s become quite popular to have a party bus for the wedding party between the ceremony and the reception, they’re great for many more wedding-related events. Book a party bus in the weeks before your wedding and invite friends from both sides of the wedding party so that everyone has the opportunity to meet and get to know each other. They’re also great for local bachelor or bachelorette parties!

For Gatherings of All Sizes

If rustic-urban charm is in your wedding vision, we highly recommend reaching out to Talon Room (talonroom.com). The former Spaghetti Works was transformed into what is now Talon Room, a beautiful event venue that can help you host the entire weekend – that’s right, the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception, all in one location!

“There’s already enough on your plate when planning your wedding, so we help out where we can,” said Owner Matthew Rogge. “We make decorating easy and provide select decorations for a small fee – we are also always adding new items to our arsenal. In addition, Talon Room offers in-house catering and bar service, as well as private tastings beforehand.”

Whether you want an intimate gathering or are looking for space for up to 250 people, Talon Room can accommodate. Their outstanding catering service will serve your guests gourmet appetizers and entrees with options that can meet any budget and time of day – even if your reception is at a separate location. Bar services can also be brought to your party, and Talon Room has a full-service in-house bar that can mix together delicious drinks for your guests. Furthermore, Talon Room has partnerships with a variety of local vendors, so they can plan and execute any event you can imagine.

“I recommend finding venues now because they book fast and it will make the decision process much easier,” said Matthew. “It’s a good idea to take tours of any options you come across, because you’ll never know what you’ll like best!”

Talon Room has recently introduced a vendor wedding package that includes flowers, photography, DJ, photo booth, and more, making it extremely easy to check things off your wedding to-do list. This package depends on vendor availability, so contact Talon Room today to save your spot!

Sweet Satisfaction

Your wedding cake is perhaps the most important centerpiece at your reception, so choosing the right bakery is crucial. Nothing Bundt Cakes (nothingbundtcakes.com) can satisfy both that after-dinner sweet tooth craving, as well as the look of a beautiful wedding cake. Offering 8” and 10” bundt cakes, as well as a combination of the two to create a tiered cake, Nothing Bundt Cakes will give you the perfect cake to cut into with your spouse. They also offer Bundtinis®, or bite-sized bundt cakes, by the dozen for your guests. Several different flavors are available among the classic vanilla and chocolate, including red velvet, white chocolate raspberry, and pecan praline, as well as two different icing options. For a decadent cake that everyone is going to be talking about long after your wedding, Nothing Bundt Cakes is the bakery for you.

Stunning Jewelry

Be sure to squeeze some time into your wedding planning to pick out your wedding bands! This allows you time to budget and make sure that it’s the perfect choice. We recommend visiting Sartor Hamann (sartorhamann.com) to check out their vast selection of wedding bands from alternative metals for men to beautiful stackable rings in an array of styles for the ladies. Plus, they offer easy financing and 10-month, no-interest layaway to ease up to the special date!

If you plan on soldering your rings together, Sartor Hamann suggests doing so before the ceremony so that you don’t have to spend time away from your rings afterwards. Their professional jewelers will solder and polish the rings as new so they glitter when placing it on the finger for the special ceremony.

Sartor Hamann is the reputable option if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind gift, whether it’s to give your spouse on your wedding day or to offer as a “congratulations”. Their jewelry includes stunning choices for every budget. Browse their amazing colored gems jewelry to the assorted diamond rings, pendants, bracelets, and earrings. Choose from Earth-grown or Lab-grown diamonds. Don’t forget the selection of handsome watches that can even be engraved to make the gesture even more meaningful. Let them gift wrap it for that final touch!

Are wedding bells in your future? These awesome professionals can hear them! Reach out to them today to take advantage of their wonderful services and outstanding knowledge of all that comes with wedding planning.